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FFL: Week 11 | NFL: Week 11

TE Strength of Schedule

Tue Jun 11 11:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Bowers could have big year one


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the tight end position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to tight ends last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the tight ends with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the tight ends that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  TE SOS  
1. Cincinnati Bengals 186.39
2. Miami Dolphins 193.98
3. Philadelphia Eagles 196.38
4. Washington Commanders 197.75
5. Houston Texans 198.15
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 199.18
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 199.68
8. New York Giants 201
9. Dallas Cowboys 201.18
10. Los Angeles Rams 201.38
11. Buffalo Bills 201.39
12. Chicago Bears 201.66
13. Arizona Cardinals 201.76
14. New York Jets 202.56
15. Jacksonville Jaguars 202.86
16. Baltimore Ravens 203.04
17. Denver Broncos 203.95
18. Los Angeles Chargers 204.02
19. Atlanta Falcons 204.25
20. Cleveland Browns 204.59
21. New Orleans Saints 205.62
22. Seattle Seahawks 205.73
23. San Francisco 49ers 206.80
24. Indianapolis Colts 206.89
25. Detroit Lions 207.92
26. New England Patriots 208.23
27. Kansas City Chiefs 210.92
28. Tennessee Titans 211.44
29. Green Bay Packers 212.07
30. Minnesota Vikings 212.23
31. Carolina Panthers 213.66
32. Las Vegas Raiders 213.81


A rookie led fantasy tight ends in scoring last year and the top rated rookie tight end this year gets the easiest fantasy schedule for tight end. Brock Browers and the Raiders have the most favorable schedule for tight ends. Sam LaPorta showed last year that a rookie can make an immediate fantasy impact, so don’t discount Browers to have big-time success in year one. He certainly looks the part of an elite tight end.

Another rookie with a good chance to start has the second easiest schedule for tight ends. Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders will compete with Tommy Tremble to start, but should emerge and be the top pass-catching tight end. He is looking like a good late-round gamble for fantasy teams.

The Vikings, Packers and Titans round out the top-five most favorable schedules for tight ends. T.J. Hockenson would be looking like a great pick if he wasn’t returning from a major injury. He is no sure thing to play early in the year. But once he is healthy, he could help fantasy teams in a big way once again.

Green Bay is likely to have Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft split a lot of the work at tight end, hurting both their value. They could produce some big games along the way, though, making them decent No. 2 fantasy tight ends this season. Both produced well in an expanded role last year.

Lastly, Chin Okonkwo didn’t quite have the breakout season many hoped last year, but he wasn’t bad by any means. Maybe he gets a few more chances this year and has some bigger games along the way with this favorable schedule. He is another decent tight end to grab as your backup.

The teams that top the list for toughest fantasy tight end schedules are teams that haven’t really utilized the tight end much in recent seasons. The Bengals have the toughest schedule followed bye the Dolphins. Mike Gesicki is the starter for the Bengals, but probably isn’t worth the risk with this schedule and the Bengals recent track record with tight ends.

Miami uses their tight ends to block more than anything in their offense. They have the occasional big game, but Jonnu Smith is going to be a risky weekly fantasy play. He would have looked much better landing with a different team.

There are a couple big-time fantasy tight ends that have unfavorable schedules. Dallas Goedert has the third toughest schedule. Goedert can be a little hit or miss to begin with in this offense, so this schedule gives him a little more concern. You might want to pass on him come draft day and go with another elite tight end with a better schedule and more consistency.

Dalton Schultz is the other elite tight end with a top-five unfavorable schedule. Schultz had a big first season with the Texans, becoming a favorite target of C.J. Stroud. He should get the targets this year. But he has a challenging schedule and more to compete with for targets, so his consistency might be a little off this year compared to last. 

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy tight ends. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the tight ends with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big-money contests.

  TE PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Atlanta Falcons 175
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 182.37
3. Philadelphia Eagles 184.73
4. Arizona Cardinals 187.67
5. Jacksonville Jaguars 187.77
6. New England Patriots 189.83
7. Miami Dolphins 190.37
8. New Orleans Saints 191.3
9. Los Angeles Rams 192.17
10. Pittsburgh Steelers 192.43
11. Cincinnati Bengals 196.1
12. Detroit Lions 196.12
13. Houston Texans 196.2
14. Indianapolis Colts 198.97
15. Buffalo Bills 199.63
16. Kansas City Chiefs 203.03
17. New York Jets 204.13
18. Carolina Panthers 205.7
19. Baltimore Ravens 205.9
20. Green Bay Packers 207.7
21. Chicago Bears 213.73
22. New York Giants 214.27
23. Seattle Seahawks 214.72
24. Cleveland Browns 214.97
25. Dallas Cowboys 215.8
26. Las Vegas Raiders 219.4
27. Washington Commanders 220.13
28. Denver Broncos 220.8
29. Minnesota Vikings 221.72
30. Tennessee Titans 223.73
31. San Francisco 49ers 225.53
32. Los Angeles Chargers 228.53


The Titans and Vikings are the only two teams with the most favorable fantasy schedule for tight ends during the regular season and playoffs. Hockenson is the intriguing one because he might not be fully healthy until late in the season. So while he might not be a huge fantasy factor for the regular season, Hockenson might be a difference maker in the playoffs.

Okonkwo is looking like a player worth grabbing as a No. 2 fantasy tight end, especially if you have an established starter ahead of him. Okonkwo has a high fantasy ceiling for the coming year because of a schedule that could facilitate a breakout season for him.

The Chargers actually have the best fantasy playoff schedule for tight ends. Donald Parham is the likely starter and has some potential in an offense looking for playmakers in the passing game. This could be his best season to date, making him an intriguing late-round gamble.

George Kittle is the biggest name on the list for top-five favorable fantasy tight end playoff schedules. He is going to produce big and could be even better down the stretch with a schedule setup for success.

The Falcons have the most challenging playoff schedule for fantasy tight ends. This is not good news for Kyle Pitts. He is already a polarizing fantasy player, so this schedule won’t do him any favors to get in good graces with more fantasy owners. Many think he could finally turn things around this year with a new coaching staff in place, but nothing is certain with this situation. Pitts could be a boom or bust pick once again.

The Eagles are the only team on both the top five most difficult fantasy schedules for tight ends for the regular season and playoffs. Goedert is looking like a player you might want to let someone else grab come draft day. There are a lot of good, young options at tight end this year. Going with one of those guys over Goedert might be the play on draft day.

Trey McBride is a favorite for many fantasy owners this year for a breakout season. He had a huge finish to last year and is shooting up draft boards. We wouldn’t avoid him come draft day because he has the fourth toughest fantasy playoff schedule. It is a little bit of a concern, but not a huge red flag for the talented tight end. Maybe just prepare for his numbers to dip a tad during the playoffs.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 11

Player Notes
Jared Goff Nov 15 10:40pm ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff enters Week 11 with a prime opportunity to rebound against a struggling Jacksonville Jaguars defense. While Goff's fantasy production has been underwhelming this season, finishing under 15 points in five games, this matchup offers a chance for a turnaround. The Jaguars allow the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, the third-most passing yards per game (271.9), and the fourth-most passing touchdowns per game (1.9). Despite tossing five interceptions in Week 10, that performance appears to be an outlier. With Jacksonville surrendering 26.4 points per game (sixth-most in the NFL), Goff should have opportunities to exploit their defensive vulnerabilities. While an early blowout could shift Detroit to a run-heavy approach, the Lions' high-scoring offense will likely lean on Goff to set the tone early. Consider him a low-end QB1 with upside this week.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Nov 15 10:40pm ET
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery is poised for a productive Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars' vulnerable run defense. Montgomery has been a Top-15 PPR fantasy RB this season, averaging 15.6 touches and 78.4 total yards per game, with four touchdowns in his last five outings. Known for his power and red zone efficiency, he ranks ninth in red zone touches and fourth in total touchdowns, making him a reliable scoring threat. Jacksonville has struggled to contain running backs, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to the position, and the fourth-highest explosive run rate. With the Jaguars also ranking poorly against the run, Montgomery should find opportunities to extend his productivity. He remains an RB2 option with touchdown upside in a favorable matchup.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Nov 15 10:30pm ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown enters Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars as a top fantasy option with a favorable matchup. St. Brown has scored in seven straight games, with a consistent 29% target share and 17 fantasy points per game average. While his yardage has been modest, averaging 56 receiving yards over the past seven games, his knack for finding the end zone bolsters his fantasy floor. This week, St. Brown faces a Jaguars defense that ranks last in both EPA and DVOA against the pass and allows the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Jacksonville's secondary has struggled with big plays, surrendering the most 20+ yard receptions per game. With Detroit's high-powered offense averaging 31.6 points per game, St. Brown's red zone involvement and touchdown potential make him an elite WR1 start.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Nov 15 10:30pm ET
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs enters Week 11 as a solid RB1 option against the Jacksonville Jaguars, despite missing the end zone last week for the first time since Week 6. Gibbs still managed 108 total yards in Week 10 and has been a consistent fantasy performer, ranking as the RB5 (PPR) this season. He's been highly productive, logging 442 rushing yards on 68 carries and four touchdowns over his last five games, along with 126 receiving yards on 11 catches. Jacksonville's defense has struggled against running backs, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points, fifth-most receptions, and fourth-most receiving yards to the position. With the Jaguars also ranking 27th in DVOA against pass-catching backs, Gibbs should have plenty of opportunities to thrive both on the ground and through the air alongside David Montgomery.

From RotoBaller

Alec Ingold Nov 15 10:10pm ET
Alec Ingold

Miami Dolphins running back Alec Ingold (calf) has been deemed questionable for Sunday's home tilt against the Las Vegas Raiders. The sixth-year back sustained a calf injury ahead of Miami's Week 9 30-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills and has yet to log a full practice, recording eight straight limited sessions since. Ingold would eventually sit out last weekend, but it appears he might give it another go despite the nagging ailment. With no other active fullbacks on the roster, the Dolphins may expand their usage of two-tight end sets to compensate for the 28-year-old's absence. Ingold has totaled 13 yards and a touchdown on his nine carries in 2024, adding 60 yards through the air on 7-of-8 receiving.

From RotoBaller

Roger McCreary Nov 15 10:00pm ET
Roger McCreary

Tennessee Titans defensive back L'Jarius Sneed (quad) will miss his fifth-straight contest this weekend when his team hosts the visiting the Minnesota Vikings. The 27-year-old has not participated in practice since sustaining a quad injury in Tennessee's 20-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6. Fellow DBs Justin Hardee (groin), Roger McCreary (knee), and Jarvis Brownlee Jr (ankle) were all limited at practice on Friday. McCreary and Brownlee Jr. do not carry a designation heading into the weekend, while Hardee has been deemed questionable for the matchup. It's good news for the Titans, as McCreary and Brownlee Jr lead all Tennessee defensive backs in snaps. Still, the team's defensive backfield is dinged up, and they could need help covering football's No. 1 wide receiver, Justin Jefferson.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Allgeier Nov 15 9:50pm ET
Tyler Allgeier

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier carried the ball 11 times last week, the third time in the last five weeks that he's reached double-digit attempts while recording two TDs during that time. The 24-year-old nearly had a score last week as well, as the Falcons gave him three straight attempts from one yard out, only to be stuffed by the defense each time. Still, it means they trust him with the ball down there, even with star running back Bijan Robinson in tow. Still, without much of a role in the passing game, he's hard to trust for fantasy purposes as he isn't going to get many points unless he finds paydirt. Against a middle-of-the-road Denver rush defense this week, the matchup may look somewhat enticing, but with a somewhat low expected total and the Falcons as two-point underdogs, the potential game script does not appear to be in Allgeier's favor. View him as a mid-to-low-end RB3 in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Nov 15 9:40pm ET
Tyler Higbee

According to Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) is still "a couple weeks away" from making a return to the field. ESPN's Sarah Barshop reported the news. The 31-year-old veteran suffered a torn ACL and MCL in last season's wild-card loss to the Detroit Lions and has been on the PUP for all of 2024 thus far. While teammate Colby Parkinson had led the TE room for most of the year, it appears that second-year tight end Davis Allen has begun to take over those honors in recent weeks -- leading his positional cohorts in snaps since Week 9. With Higbee still working his way back from injury, Allen will have a few more weeks to cement himself as the team's preferred option. Fantasy managers can continue to steer clear of the Rams' tight end room for now.

From RotoBaller

Alec Pierce Nov 15 9:30pm ET
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce had a strong showing in Week 10, posting a 4-81-1 line on a season-high seven targets. The increased action was likely a result of fellow wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. missing the game with a back injury, and unfortunately for Pierce, Pittman is due to return in Week 11. They are different receivers, though, so Pierce still has a chance for one of his trademark big plays as he can stretch the field with his speed. In fact, the 24-year-old has the seventh-most air yards in all of football and has the highest percentage of air yards of the Colts' receiving corps at 28.4%. With his big play ability and the fact that both Pittman and Josh Downs have missed games due to injury, Pierce somewhat surprisingly is the team's leader in receiving yards and touchdowns with 516 and four respectively. Look for Pierce to again garner a handful of targets in Week 11 with a few receptions and a chance for a long score, making the former second-round draft pick a boom/bust WR4/5 this week.

From RotoBaller

Harrison Bryant Nov 15 9:20pm ET
Harrison Bryant

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Miami Dolphins. The fifth-year veteran kicked off the week tagged with a DNP but was able to log a limited session on Thursday before being downgraded again on Friday. Bryant has dealt with a few injuries this season and will now miss his second game of 2024. With teammate Michael Mayer (personal) deemed questionable, Las Vegas is in danger of being down two tight ends for the matchup. If Mayer cannot play, rookie sensation Brock Bowers would be slated for all the work he can handle, with Justin Shorter rotating in behind him. Shorter has appeared in three games this season but has yet to command a target on nine total snaps.

From RotoBaller

Elijah Moore Nov 15 9:10pm ET
Elijah Moore

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore comes out of his bye to take on the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 11. Moore has been heavily targeted over his past two games, drawing 21 targets over that span. The Saints represent a decent matchup for Moore as they are allowing the 11th-most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts. Moore has gone over 44 receiving yards just once all season and has yet to cross the goal line but his recent target volume makes him worth a look as a flex option in PPR leagues this weekend.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Nov 15 9:10pm ET
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku will come out of his bye to face off against the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 11. Njoku has been on a hot streak of late, catching 20 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns over his past three contests. The Saints have been a middle-of-the-road matchup for tight ends this season as they are allowing the 18th-most fantasy points per game to the position thus far. Njoku has emerged as one of Jameis Winston's favorite targets since he took over as quarterback for the Browns and should be treated as a top-five fantasy tight end this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Dustin Hopkins Nov 15 9:10pm ET
Dustin Hopkins

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins comes out of his bye week to take on the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 11. Hopkins has made 14 of his 18 field-goal attempts and all but two of his 12 extra points through nine games. The Saints have been a plus matchup for kickers in fantasy this season, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position. Hopkins is worth considering as a top-15 fantasy kicker heading into Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Cedric Tillman Nov 15 9:00pm ET
Cedric Tillman

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman comes out of his bye to take on the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 11. Tillman was in the midst of a mini breakout before his bye, posting 21 catches for 255 yards and three touchdowns over his past three games. The second-year wideout will look to keep it going against a Saints defense that is allowing the 11th-most fantasy points per game to the position this season. Tillman and Jameis Winston have shown nice chemistry together thus far, making him trustworthy as a WR2 in fantasy in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Mack Hollins Nov 15 9:00pm ET
Mack Hollins

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins (shoulder) is in line for another start in Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Keon Coleman (wrist) will be inactive. Amari Cooper (wrist) is a question mark. Hollins is also on the injury report but did not miss practice this week and will be active on Sunday. With both Coleman and Cooper out of the lineup in Week 10, Hollins led the Bills with 86 receiving yards. Most of his production came on a 44-yard completion. Against a great Kansas City defense, Hollins can't be trusted to pace the Bills again nor should he be in fantasy football lineups. Buffalo's coaching staff likes him on the field for his intangibles more than his receiving skills.

From RotoBaller

Jerry Jeudy Nov 15 9:00pm ET
Jerry Jeudy

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (knee) comes out of his bye to take on the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 11. Jeudy continues to be listed on the Browns' injury report with a knee issue but he practiced fully all week and is listed without an injury designation heading into the weekend. The Saints represent a plus matchup for Jeudy as they are allowing the 11th-most fantasy points per game to the receiver position this season. Jeudy has reached at least 73 receiving yards in each of his two starts with Jameis Winston under center and should continue to see plenty of opportunities with Winston attempting at least 41 passes in each of his past two contests. Jeudy is worth a look as a flex option in fantasy this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson Nov 15 9:00pm ET
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson will be back under center for the first time since Week 8 after Joe Flacco led the team over the last two weeks. According to head coach Shane Steichen, Richardson will be the QB for the remainder of the season, but hopefully it will yield better results this time around. The 23-year-old produced an unsightly 44.4% completion rate in the six games he's played in this season and a subpar 4:7 TD:INT. His saving grace for fantasy was the fact that he gained at least 24 rush yards in each of those contests, but the only time he managed to punch one in for a score was way back in Week 1. With a poor matchup against the Jets on the road on tap in Week 11, it will be a challenge to put up useful fantasy output against a defense allowing the eighth-fewest points to opposing signal-callers and versus an opponent that is playing at home in desperate need of a win. The former first-round pick is a low-end QB2 for Sunday with a tiny bit of upside because of his legs.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Bass Nov 15 9:00pm ET
Tyler Bass

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass is 9-for-9 on field goals and 12-for-13 on extra points since Week 6. His resurgence came at a time when his job appeared to be in jeopardy. For fantasy football, he's scored the second-most points at the position in that timeframe. Overall, he's 30-for-33 on extra points and 18-for-21 on field goals. With his confidence back, Bass ranks as a top-12 kicker against the Chiefs. The Bills offense is missing key pieces in Keon Coleman (wrist) and Dalton Kincaid (knee) which could lead to more field goal opportunities.

From RotoBaller

James Cook Nov 15 8:50pm ET
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is a fantasy football RB1 this season but will have an uphill battle to land in the top 12 in Week 11. The Kansas City Chiefs allow the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs and surrender 3.17 yards per carry. Cook can make up for a lack of rushing efficiency with work in the passing game. However, he only caught one pass against the Colts last week. That was without Amari Cooper (wrist) and Keon Coleman (wrist) in the lineup. Coleman will be out again. So will tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee). Cooper is questionable. The Chiefs may focus more on containing Cook on backfield routes. Regardless, the 25-year-old will see plenty of usage and ranks as an RB2 this week.

From RotoBaller

Khalil Shakir Nov 15 8:50pm ET
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has four straight games with at least six receptions and enters Week 11 leading the team in catches (48) and receiving yards (529). He's providing a safe PPR floor and should get plenty of looks on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) will not play. Amari Cooper (wrist) is questionable and sporting a cast. The Chiefs are most susceptible to receiver production from the slot. That's Shakir's role and the health of other receivers does not impact that. The 24-year-old ranks as a high-end WR3 in PPR formats this week.

From RotoBaller